HÒA BÌNH – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has urged the northern province of Hòa Bình to improve its investment environment so it can attract investors.

Addressing a local investment promotion conference on Saturday, the Prime Minister said Hòa Bình enjoys many advantages, such as its location as a gateway to the capital Hà Nội, beautiful landscape, rich culture and potential in construction materials, mining, hi-quality agro-fishery processing, resorts and eco-tourism.

However, most investment projects in the locality are small scale, he said, calling on investors to explore opportunities in the province, particularly in tourism.

In the first ten months of this year, the province licensed 39 projects, including one foreign-invested project worth US$3 million and 38 domestic projects worth nearly VNĐ4.6 trillion ($208.5 million).

During a meeting with local authorities earlier the same day, PM Phúc recommended that Hòa Bình focus on organic agriculture and tourism, considering the province’s natural advantages.

As the rate of local poor households remains high, 24 per cent, he requested speeding up poverty reduction, stepping up the fight against drug trafficking and preventing wastefulness in the use of State assets.

The leader also called for pooling public resources into infrastructure to ease pressure on the State budget.

Local authorities proposed the Ministry of Defence consider launching a hydroplane service from Nội Bài International Airport to Hòa Bình Lake to boost local tourism.

The same day, the PM attended the a festival in Dân Chủ Commune, Hòa Bình city. - VNS